Compare towns
Brookline vs Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Montgomery | Plainfield | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,047 |
1,314 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.